Objective To compare the efficiency of epidermis cell culture between big graft method and small strip method. Methods The big graft method was to cut the skin tissue reticularly from dermis layer while the epidermis were not cut off. After it was digested fully in trypsin, theepidermis was separated from skin and was used to culture epidermal cells. The small strip method was routine. The time to cut the skin and to separate the epidermis was recorded, and the number and quality of cells were compared between two methods. Results It took 8-10 minutes to cut an area of 5 cm2 skin into small strips and 1-2 minutes into big grafts. It took 10-15 minutes to separate the epidermis from the same area skin by small strip method and 2 minutes by big graft method. The cells showed better vigor and its number was more by big grafts than by small strips.The chance of fibroblast contamination was reduced obviously. Conclusion The big graft method is simpler than the small strip method and can culture more epidermis cells with less chance of fibroblast contamination.
In the formulation of the clinical question of traditional Chinese medicine clinical practice guidelines, even if the intervention elements (intervention or control) have an appropriate scope, guideline developers are still faced with a variety of interventions. By analyzing the difficulty and necessity of priority selection of intervention interventions, we propose the approach of extending expert evidence to the process of priority selection of intervention interventions, and further provide the methodology of expert evidence data collection table design, application, data presentation and expert decision-making method to provide references and guidance for guideline developers.
Objective To evaluate the quality of Chinese literatures on the methodology of D-dimer diagnostic test. Method We searched CNKI (1994 to 2006) and CBM (1978 to 2006) for articles involving the diagnostic tests of D-dimer for coagulation disorders. Result A total of 63 relevant articles were retrieved and 7 were included in our review. Only one of these provided useful data on two two table for the evaluation of diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions Few studies on the diagnostic tests of D-dimer have been performed and publ ished in China, all of poor quality. Further studies should focus on clinical diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, so as to provide more valuable information for readers.
Umbrella review is a research method that comprehensively analyzes the systematic reviews and meta-analysis of a research question. In recent years, the research methods of umbrella review have been widely used, but the quality of umbrella review is uneven. Therefore, this paper focuses on the production methods and existing challenges of umbrella review, in order to provide references for domestic researchers to make umbrella review.
New interventions are rapidly progressing into clinical practice through the preclinical study stage. The animal experiments should be comprehensive and critically evaluated for their pivotal role in this process. To integrate the evidence of animal studies by systematic review throws light on intervention outcomes and could decrease risk of participants in human trials. The methodological weakness of animal studies is easy to highlight but robust methods to synthesize evidence is essential. Here, we discuss some problems in systematic review of animal experiments and whether animal models of diverse species contribute to bias of meta-analysis conclusions.
ObjectiveTo understand the current status of research methods in disease burden systematic reviews, identify limitations and shortcomings of existing research methods, and provide suggestions to address relevant issues. MethodsA computer search of the PubMed database was conducted to collect systematic reviews on disease burden, with search limits set from database inception to December 21, 2023. Two independent researchers utilized Endnote 20 for literature screening and Excel 2019 for data extraction and descriptive analysis. ResultsA total of 216 articles were included in the review, revealing a year-on-year increase in the number of systematic reviews on disease burden since 2004. The journal PharmacoEconomics published the most articles (n=22), while research on certain infectious diseases and parasitic infections was the most prevalent (n=51). Only 31 articles provided a complete account of the entire systematic review process. The reporting rates for inclusion/exclusion criteria, information retrieval, literature screening, and statistical analysis steps were all 100%. However, the rate of protocol registration was relatively low at 19%. Eighty-eight percent of the articles utilized software such as Excel and Epidata for data extraction, yet only 32% adhered to the reproducibility principles outlined in AMSTAR-2. In terms of quality assessment, 105 articles underwent evaluation, with the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist and Newcastle-Ottawa scale being the most commonly used quality assessment tools for epidemiological studies, while economic studies preferred the Drummond checklist (n=9). Regarding the details of inclusion/exclusion criteria, only 53% of studies reported their study design in detail, and less than one-sixth provided a comprehensive description of the interventions and control measures. Statistical analyses predominantly employed qualitative methods (80%), with quantitative analyses comprising a minority (20%), all of which were conducted using meta-analysis techniques, primarily utilizing R software (n=15). ConclusionThe number of systematic reviews on disease burden has shown a yearly increasing trend; however, most studies have failed to comprehensively adhere to the fundamental processes of systematic reviews, significantly limiting their quality. Currently, the primary issues include a lack of protocol registration, incomplete supplementary searches, mismatched quality assessment tools, and insufficiently comprehensive outcome measures. To address these challenges, it is essential to develop a methodological guideline for systematic reviews on disease burden that incorporates these concerns. Such a guideline would standardize researchers' practices and ensure strict adherence to systematic review methodologies, thereby enhancing the scientific rigor of the research and its support for clinical decision-making.
This paper explores the methodological characteristics and key considerations of umbrella trials. By allocating different treatment strategies based on patients' molecular features, umbrella trials significantly enhance screening efficiency and can quickly identify ineffective therapies. Through the analysis of patient allocation strategies, statistical model selection, and error control methods, we can better utilize this design to accelerate drug development and achieve more efficient personalized treatment. However, despite significant progress in methodology and practice, umbrella trials still face multiple challenges during implementation, including trial design, sample size calculation, patient recruitment, informed consent, and resource allocation. Addressing these challenges in the future will help further optimize the application of umbrella trials. This study aims to provide thoughts and inspirations for researchers conducting umbrella trials and promote the steady development of this field.
Objective The objective of this research was to develop a core traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes set for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). MethodsA dataset of TCM syndrome names via systematic review and medical records was developed, and common TCM syndromes classification for NVAF via cross-sectional study were identified. A questionnaire was then developed according to the results of cross-sectional study and the TCM syndrome names dataset. Two rounds of the Delphi survey were carried; clinicians, researchers of TCM/integrated medicine, and nurses were included in the Delphi survey. After a face to face consensus meeting, a core TCM syndromes set for NVAF was developed. ResultsThe core TCM syndromes set for NVAF included four core TCM syndromes, which involved qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome (core symptoms/signs: palpitations, chest distress or pain, dark purple tongue, or tongue with ecchymosis or petechial, irregular pulse or uneven pulse), heart-kidney yang deficiency syndrome (core symptoms/signs: palpitation, chest distress, fatigue, weakness, chills, pale complexion, frequent urination, wheezing, edema on the face or both lower extremities, oliguria, slippery pulse or slender pulse or deep pulse), qi and yin deficiency (core symptoms/signs: palpitation, chest distress, fatigue, shortness of breath, fine pulse, spontaneous perspiration, night sweats, forgetfulness, lassitude, red tongue, little or no moss on the tongue, and fine pulse), heart and spleen deficiency (core symptoms/signs: palpitation, chest tightness, spontaneous perspiration, abdominal distension after eating, loose stools, pale tongue, weak pulse). ConclusionsThe core TCM syndromes set of NVAF may improve the consistency of TCM syndromes efficacy evaluation in clinical trials of NVAF.
The necessity and methods of systematic review or Meta-analysis of observational studies were introduced. The difference between the systematic review or Meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials was also described.